According to a survey by the Guardian of more than 80 councils in England and Wales, services in adult social care, children’s services, planning, and culture and leisure face will be under severe pressure.

Birmingham council, Britain’s biggest local authority, admitted that cuts of up to £600m by 2016-17 – or half of the council's budget – were now being revised upwards.

Despite making more than £5bn worth of cuts since June 2010, including axing 230,000 jobs, local authorities admit they will be forced to “decommission” services such as libraries, leisure facilities and after-school clubs.

Council leaders admitted that local finances were becoming “unsustainable”.

One in three local authorities are proposing to increase council tax next year, despite a Government offer of funding if they freeze the charge.